Surgery

Advanced surgical care in Riverside, California

Riverside Community Hospital is home to 14 state-of-the-art operating rooms where our skilled surgical specialists provide advanced procedures across a range of specialties. We specialize in minimally invasive procedures, which, compared to traditional surgeries, can offer patients a range of benefits, such as smaller incisions and faster recovery times. No matter what procedure you need, you can trust that our surgery team will support you from pre-admission through recovery.

If you are interested in learning more about the procedures we offer, call our Consult-A-Nurse® team at (951) 788-3463.

Surgeries we offer

When non-surgical treatments, such as pain management and lifestyle modifications, are ineffective at treating your condition, your doctor may recommend surgery.

Bariatric surgery

The Center for Surgical Weight Loss at our hospital offers a wide range of bariatric procedures to qualified candidates seeking sustained weight loss solutions. Through weight loss procedures, such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS), we can surgically treat obesity and help reduce weight-related health issues.

Cardiovascular surgery

The cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons at The Heart Care Institute perform hundreds of cardiac surgeries each year, including advanced procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), open-heart surgery and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Neurological surgery

Our skilled neurologists and neurology surgeons offer advanced surgical procedures to treat even the most complex and challenging neurological conditions. We have been nationally recognized for our fast and effective stroke treatments and offer minimally invasive procedures for the brain and spine.

Spine surgery

We offer a range of surgical treatments for spine disorders and injuries, including spinal fusions and spinal tumor resections. Our skilled spine specialists often use advanced technology to perform minimally invasive procedures, such as robot-assisted spine surgery and stereotactic and image-guided spine surgery.

Orthopedic surgery

The Riverside Orthopedic Institute offers a wide range of procedures to relieve pain and increase range of motion and mobility for patients experiencing bone, joint and muscle conditions and injuries. Our orthopedic program has been nationally recognized for our hip and knee replacement procedures and we also perform robotic noninvasive orthopedic surgery.

Thoracic surgery

Our hospital's pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons are dedicated to providing comprehensive pulmonary care for conditions affecting the lungs, chest and esophagus. We offer a wide range of thoracic surgeries, from thoracotomies to tumor removals.

Minimally invasive surgery

Our hospital provides a wide range of minimally invasive surgical options, many of which are performed on an outpatient basis. Minimally invasive surgery can potentially offer patients benefits compared to traditional procedures, such as minimal scarring and fast recovery times.

Some of the minimally invasive surgeries we offer include:

• Endoscopic surgery
• Laparoscopic surgery
• Robotic surgery
• Stereotactic surgery

Preparing for surgery

We know that having surgery can cause anxiety. However, you can rest assured that our surgery teams will guide you every step of the way, making you comfortable and preparing you for your procedure. Here are some general items of what to expect, from registration to post-surgical recovery:

Registration and pre-admission testing

Once your surgery is scheduled, our pre-admission team will contact you to schedule your pre-admission appointment and testing. We also recommend that you pre-register to save time the day of your surgery.

What to bring to your pre-admission appointment

We suggest that you bring the following items with you to your pre-admission appointment:

• Current insurance information
• Driver's license or alternative forms of identification
• Payment for services (when notified ahead of time by financial services)

What to bring to your pre-admission testing appointment

We suggest that you bring the following items to your pre-admission testing appointment:

• A list of your allergies
• A list of your past surgeries and hospitalizations with dates and years, if known
• Your current medications or a list of your current medications with dosages and timing

How to prepare on the days leading up to surgery

During the weeks or days before your procedure, it's important to make the following arrangements:

• Arrange for transportation to and from the hospital. You will not be able to drive yourself or take a taxi or rideshare service. You can only be discharged to a family member or friend.
• Find a caregiver for your children, pets and other dependents while you are in the hospital and after you are home.
• If you are having anesthesia in an outpatient procedure, you will need to arrange for a responsible adult to remain at the hospital until you are discharged. Patients younger than 18 years old having outpatient surgery will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• Select one person to wait for you in the surgery waiting room. This person may discuss your status with your surgeon and answer questions following your procedure.

How to prepare the day before surgery

It's important to do the following the day before your procedure:

• If you feel sick, call your physician. Do not wait until the day of surgery to tell your doctor if you have a fever, sore throat or any type of infection.
• If you think you might be pregnant, notify your physician. Anesthesia and certain medications could affect your unborn child.
• Follow your physician's pre-surgical instructions. Failure to follow your doctor's orders could result in a procedure cancellation. Pre-surgical instructions can include:
  • Not drinking or eating anything for a period
  • Preparing your bowels
  • Taking a special shower
  • Taking certain medications

How to prepare the day of surgery

Please be sure to do the following on the day of your procedure:

• Arrive two hours before your scheduled surgery.
• Bring a copy of your living will, if applicable.
• Bring a list of all your medications.
• Do not suck on mints, chew gum, smoke, eat anything, wear makeup, or use nail polish on the morning of your procedure.
• If you have been told to take certain medications, such as blood pressure medicine, on the day of surgery, you may take them with an ounce (two tablespoons) of water only.
• Leave all jewelry, including body piercings, and valuables at home. The hospital is not responsible for lost items.
• Note that contact lenses, dentures and eyeglasses cannot be worn in the operating room.

Arriving at the hospital for surgery

Patients coming to us for surgery need to enter the hospital through the G Tower entrance. You may be dropped off or park in either of our parking structures for easy access.

Checking in at the front desk for surgery

After you arrive at the hospital for surgery, you'll need to check in at the front desk in the new G Tower lobby. If you have not pre-registered, proceed to the second floor waiting room.

You and your family members will be given a wrist band to access the surgery floors. You will then be directed to the preoperative holding area.

What to expect in the preoperative holding area

After you are directed to the preoperative holding area, you can expect the following:

• You will meet your nurse or anesthesiologist.
• Your nurse will complete your admission process by asking you questions.
• You will be asked to sign a consent for anesthesia.
• You will change into a hospital gown.
• A nurse will start your intravenous (IV) line.
• Your surgeon will meet with you before your procedure and may mark the surgical site. You may ask your surgeons any questions at this time.

What to expect at the operating room (OR)

You will be taken to the OR, where your surgeon will perform your procedure. Your visitor will wait for you in the surgery waiting room.

What to expect in the recovery room

After your procedure, you will move to the recovery room or PACU. You'll stay there until you are fully awake, ready for discharge or admitted to your hospital room. The amount of time you'll spend in the recovery room depends on you, your procedure and room availability.

What to expect after surgery

If you are going home after surgery, you and a responsible adult will be given discharge instructions regarding medication, diet and activities. If you are staying in the hospital after surgery, you will be transported to your assigned room when it is available. Your visitor will be informed when you move to a new location.